Refuge(131)

At the bottom of the stairs a short hallway stretched before me, with a thick metal door at the other end. As I drew close to the door, I could see the intricate runes etched into the metal, preventing anyone but a Mohiri from opening the door, and I could feel the buzz of strong magic running through it when I put my hand over the metal surface. I paused with my hand on the door. When and how had I started to sense magic?

Turning the large iron knob, I pulled the door toward me, revealing a dimly lit room on the other side. What I didn’t see until I walked inside was Ben posted to the right of the door. He gave me a stern look when I entered the room.

“You should not be down here.”

“I want to see him.”

Ben folded his arms across his chest. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you in there without an order from Tristan.”

“He’s my uncle and I have a right to see him,” I argued, wondering how I was going to get past the huge warrior. “Couldn’t you make an exception?”

Sympathy flashed in his eyes. “That vampire is not your uncle anymore. I am sorry for your loss, but I cannot allow you to see him unless I receive orders. If you wish, I can contact Tristan and ask him.”

My mind worked furiously. Tristan might let me see Nate tonight, but he and Nikolas would insist on accompanying me, and I’d never be able to do what I came to do. I could tell by Ben’s determined expression that he was not going to be persuaded to let me in without permission.

I have to get in there.

I was desperate enough to try almost anything to get into those holding cells, so when the idea came to me, I didn’t stop to debate whether it was a bad one or not. I moved backward and let my body slump against the wall.

Ben immediately moved toward me. “Are you all right?”

“Just a little dizzy,” I said, making my voice sound weak.

He took my arm and guided me to the only bench in the room. “Sit here and I’ll call someone to assist you back to your room.”

I caught his hand as he reached for his earpiece. “Ben, if this works, I hope you’ll forgive me.”

“If what – ?” His eyes widened, and I saw shock pass over his face as static crackled over my hand and a small jolt of power shot into him. For a moment, he stood there staring at me, and all I could think was oh crap! Then his eyes rolled up in his head and he fell to his knees. He toppled sideways, and I jumped and caught his head before it hit the hard stones. The last thing I wanted was to give him a concussion on top of everything else. I checked his pulse and breathing and smiled grimly. The jolt I gave him was the same kind I’d used on Chris, so I knew Ben wasn’t going to be down for long. And he was not going to be happy when he woke up. “Sorry, Ben, but I had to do this,” I said softly, pulling off my sweater to pillow his head.

Searching his pockets, I found a set of keys, and as soon as my fingers closed around them, I felt the same magic in them that protected the doors. I stood and adjusted my T-shirt, then opened the door on the other end of the room. It was covered in the same etchings, and it was even heavier than the first door, closing with a solid thump behind me. I found myself in another hallway lined with metal doors. Each door had a small barred window through which I could see an empty windowless cell. Cold hit me in the chest and my heart sped up as I walked past the cells, knowing that one of them held Nate. Fear and anxiety churned my stomach as I tried to mentally prepare for what I was going to face and what I was about to do.

“Come to visit me at last,” drawled a cold voice I barely recognized before I reached the last door. I sucked in a sharp breath and stumbled, not as prepared to hear his voice as I thought I was. I took a moment to steel myself then stepped up to the door. The cell was dark, and I flipped a switch beside the door, making light flood the small room and revealing the figure chained by his hands and feet to the back wall. His dark hair was lank, and his face looked paler and thinner than it had yesterday, if that was possible. It was his eyes that shocked me the most. Instead of the familiar bright green, they were dark, almost black, and they stared hungrily at me now, the eyes of a predator.

“How did you know it was me?” I asked, fighting to keep the tremble out of my voice.

“You forget I have a heightened sense of smell now, and you . . . ” He lifted his face and sniffed the air. “They were right. You smell delicious.”

I shuddered. Remember, this is not Nate. “Tristan said you wanted to see me.”

Nate chuckled. “I did, but I am surprised he and Nikolas let you come to see me alone. I always knew that warrior had a soft spot for – ”